US Governor meets Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan seeks to boost ties in semiconductor industry

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday hailed economic and educational cooperation with Taiwan, marked by a $12 billion investment in his state by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.

Ducey spoke during a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, in latest of a series of visits by U.S. political leers that have stirred ire of China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and condemns all official contacts between Taipei and foreign governments that recognize Beijing.

Taiwan is a leer in production of semiconductors, critical chips that are used in everyday electronics and have become a battleground in technology competition between U.S. and China.

Arizona is also home to a base that trains Taiwan’s F-16 fighter pilots who are a major part in island’s defenses against a threatened Chinese blocke or invasion. Arizona also plans to open a state representative office in Taipei and sides have inked an agreement on cooperation in higher education. TSMC investment is expected to create 2,000 jobs in Arizona, with company taking numerous future workers for training in Taiwan.

“Arizona and Taiwan have many shared economic strengths specifically in technology and vanced manufacturing industries,” Ducey said.

“Both Arizona and Taiwan are global semiconductor leers and it is in this industry where our partnership is greatest. ( investment) has elevated potential of what’s possible between Arizona and Taiwan,” governor said.

Neir Tsai or Ducey directly mentioned China, although in her remarks, president indicated current events were driving expanded economic links between sides.

“In face of authoritarian expansionism and economic challenges of post-pandemic era, Taiwan seeks to bolster cooperation with United States in semiconductor and or high-tech industries,” Tsai said.

“This would help build more secure and more resilient supply chains. We look forward to jointly producing democracy chips to safeguard interests of our democratic partners and create greater prosperity,” she said.

Close links between Taiwan and Arizona date back to state’s former senators Barry Goldwater and John McCain, conservatives who were strongly critical of Beijing.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan early last month me her highest-ranking American official to visit in 25 years, prompting China to launch missiles over island and send ships and planes across midline of Taiwan Strait.

U.S. recently sent a pair of missile cruisers through 180 kilometer (110 mile)-wide strait in a rejection of Chinese protests. Despite lack of formal diplomatic relations, U.S. remains Taiwan’s main source of political and military support and federal law requires it to ensure island has ability to defend itself against Chinese threats.